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            RAIL-MOUNTED OPTICAL FIBER SENSORS FOR MONITORING TRACK TRANSITIONS
      

      
  Document Series
              Research Results


      
  Author
          Federal Railroad Administration


      
Report Number
              RR 23-21

  Office
              RDI-21


      Subject
                    Track


      
  Keywords
              Optical Fiber Sensors, Fiber Bragg Grating, Track Monitoring, Rail Strain


      

      
      
              
                  
      
              
  Document
              Rail-Mounted Optical Fiber Sensors.pdf (670.94 KB)

      
              The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) sponsored a research team from Oklahoma State University (OSU) to assess how well Optical Fiber Sensors (OFS), specifically Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors, can monitor railroad track transitions. The initial laboratory work focused on comparing the strains and deflections in a section of statically-loaded rail. The team collected strain gage and linear transducer data for comparison to FBG sensors and numerical modelling predictions. The results show good agreement between the methods, providing confidence in this new measurement technique. Additional planned research includes dynamic load tests and experiments to determine the best way to mount the FBG-sensor to the rail
      
            
      
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